Apparatus for transporting tobacco or the like



United States Patent Inventor Udo Von Papen Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany Appl. No. 742,622 Filed July 5, 1968 Patented Dec. 29, 1970 Assignee Hauni-Werke Korber & Co. Kg. Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany Priority July 22, 1967 Germany No. B63357 APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING TOBACCO OR THE LIKE 16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

u.s. c1 198/205, 198/65, 198/220 Int. Cl. ..B65g 15/60, B65g 47/38 Field ofSearch 198/65, 66,

72, 165, 166, 106, 205, 220(A-10), 220(B-10), 45, 31(A3), 57, 58

Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant Examiner-Roger S. Gaither Attorney-Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT: A transporting apparatus for shredded tobacco which comprises a vibrating chute having a bottom wall provided with an outlet for gravity flow of tobacco therethrough. The outlet can be closed by an endless belt or chain having an upper stringer which is rolled against the bottom wall in a direction from the upstream end toward the downstream end of the outlet at a speed which at least equals but preferably exceeds the speed of tobacco travel in the chute so that the belt reaches the downstream end of the outlet ahead of the front end of the tobacco stream. This prevents the belt from pinching particles of tobacco between its upper stretch and the bottom wall of the chute at the downstream end of the outlet.

PATENIEUUECQQIQYU 3550.759

sum 1 OF 2 A/VENTOR 1 jjl h'kp A TORNEY APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING TOBACCO OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus for transporting flowable materials, particularly for. transporting shredded tobacco, textile fibers and other types of fibrous substances which can form a stream. Still more particularly, the invention relates to improvements in closures or gateswhich are utilized toexpose or close outlets in conveyors of such transporting apparatus.

Shredded tobacco is often transported in vibrating chutes or troughs having a outlet through which the material can descend by gravity to enter the magazine of a rod cigarette machine or another tobacco consuming machine. The outlet can be exposed or closed by a platelike gate of sheet metal or the like which is movable with reference to the chute and can be reciprocated by a drive which is mounted on the chute. A drawback of such apparatus is that the gate is likely to pinch some tobacco shreds against the chute at the downstream end of the outlet, as considered in the direction of material flow. The thus entrapped particles interfere with orderly flow of material past and beyond the closed outlet. v

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of my invention to provide a novel and improved transporting apparatus wherein the gate is designed and operated in such a way that it cannot interfere with orderly transport of flowable material when the outlet of the conveyor for such material is closed, exposed or partially exposed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel gate for use in the just outlined apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gate which can be mounted on or used in connection with existing vibrating troughs, chutes or like conveyors for shredded tobacco or analogous flowable materials. 7

An additional object of the invention is to provide a gate which occupies little room and comprises a small number of simple parts.

The improved transporting apparatus comprises conveyor means defining an elongated path in which shredded tobacco or other flowable solid material is conveyed in a predetermined direction at a first speed and having outlet means through which the material can be evacuated from an intermediate portion of the. path, and a gate movable with reference to the conveyor means between a closed position in which it closes the outlet means and an open position in which it exposes at least a portion of the outlet means. The gate includes a closing member having a succession of portions which more into registry with portions of the outlet means during movement of the gate from open to closed position to thereby reduce the effective area of the outlet means in'the direction of material travel at a second speed which at least equals but preferably exceeds the first speed. In this way, the outlet means is closed before the leading end of the thus intercepted material in the conveyor means reaches the downstream end of the outlet means.

The closing member may be an endless belt or chain or a belt or chain of finite length whose upper stretch may but need not be coupled to the conveyor means and which is trained over rollers movable back and forth with reference to the conveyo'r means.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic partly elevational and partly sectional view of a transporting apparatus which embodies one form of the invention, the gate being shown in open position;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of the apparatus but showing the gate in an intermediate position;

FIG. 3 is a similar view but showing the gate in closed position;

FIG. 4 is a partly elevational andvpartly sectional view of the apparatus but showing further details of the gate and of its drive, the gate being shown in closed position;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 4, with a portion of the gate broken away;

FIG. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view asseen in the direction of arrows from the line VI-VI of FIG. 4; and 7 FIG; 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view of a second transporting apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS dicated by arrow E at a predetermined and preferably variable speed. The means for vibrating the chute 7 is of conventional design and is not shown in the drawing. The bottom wall 70 of the chute 7 has an elongated opening or outlet 11 whose front end or downstream end is flanked by a substantially vertical transverse edge face 16. The bottom wall 7a may but need not be inclined with reference to a horizontal plane.

The gate of the transporting apparatus comprises a closing means here shown as an endless beltor band 1 of plastic or thin metallic sheet material which is trained around rollers 2, 3 mounted on horizontal shafts 4, 6. The distance A between the axes of the shafts 4, 6 is fixed and the upper stretch of the belt 1 is secured to the chute 7, as at B. The drive which moves the gate between open and closed positions comprises a doubleacting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 8 and a piston rod 9 which is coupled to the gate, preferably in a manner which will be described later with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. The numeral 14 denotes the front end of the belt 1 and the character C denotes the direction in which the gate must be movedby the piston rod 9 from open to closed position, The distanceA at least equals the length of the outlet 11. I

FIG. 1 illustrates the gate in fully open position. Thus, the front end 14 of the belt 1 is located directly below or slightly to the left of the left-hand end of the outlet 11 so that the particles of the tobacco stream 13 can descend'by gravity to accumulate in the magazine 12. If the operator desires to close the outlet 11, the cylinder 8 is caused to displace the piston rod 9 in the direction indicated by arrow C whereby. the entire gate (including the belt 1, rollers 2, 3 and shafts 4, 6 but not the point B where the belt is coupled to the bottom wall 7a) moves in a direction to the right and at a speed which at least equals but preferably exceeds the speed of the tobacco stream 13.

Since the belt 1 is secured to the chute 7, as at B, its upper stretch to the right of the point B increases in length and rolls itself against the underside of the bottom wall 7a in a direction toward the face 16. At the same time, the length of the upper stretch to the left of the point B decreases because the distance A between the axes of the shafts 4, 6 is fixed. Since the speed of the piston rod 9 exceeds the speed of the stream 13, successive increments or portions of the upper stretch of the belt 1 overtake the adjacent increments of the tobacco stream and move into registry with successive portions of the outlet 11 to reduce the effective area of the outlet. This clearly shown in FIG. 2 which illustrates the gate in partially closed position; Consequently, the front end of the tobacco stream 13 is distant from the front end turn 14 and cannot be wedged between the belt 1 and edge face 16 when the gate reaches the closed position shown in FIG. 3. It will be seen that the front end of the stream 13 lags behind the front end turn 14 of the belt 1 so that no tobacco can be caught between the underside of the bottom wall 70 and the upper stretch of the belt. The tobacco stream is compelled to travel along the upper stretch of the belt 1 and in the chute 7 by advancing along and beyond the closed outlet 11.

It is clear that the belt 1 can be replaced by a link chain or by an apron conveyor without departing from the spirit of my invention. Furthermore, the gate need not be suspended on the chute 7 but may be mounted on a separate frame. The same applies for the drive including the cylinder 8 and piston rod 9. When the belt 1 assumes the position of FIG. 2 or 3 (partly closed or fully closed position), that section of its upper stretch which is located to the right of the point B forms part of the chute 7 in that it serves as an extension of the bottom wall 7a. It is to be noted that the belt 1 need not be affixed to the chute 7, i.e., its upper stretch can be affixed to another part of the apparatus so that a portion of such upper stretch remains stationary when the rollers 2, 3 move back and forth to deform the belt 1 at both sides of the point B.

FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate in greater detail a transporting apparatus which utilizes the parts shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. Such parts are denoted by similar numerals, i.e., the numeral 1 again denotes a closing belt and the numerals 2, 3 and 4,6 respectively denote two rollers and two shafts. The end portions of the shafts 4,6 are mounted in two lateral frame members or cheeks 17, 18 which form part of a reciprocable carriage or dolly. The latter further comprises transversely extending distancing beams 19, 21 having bearings 22, 23 for two pairs of wheels or runners 24, 26 travelling along rails or ways 27, 28 secured to the bottom wall 7a or to another part of the chute 7. The front end of the piston rod 9 is secured to the carriage by a coupling 29.

The cylinder 8 is a pneumatic cylinder and has two chambers located at the opposite sides of a piston 34 which is affixed to the trailing end of the piston rod 9. The two chambers respectively communicate with conduits 32, 33 which can be connected to a source of compressed gas by a system of valves which are not shown in the drawing. The cylinder 8 is secured to the chute 7 by brackets 37, 38.

FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate the gate in closed position. In order to expose the outlet 11 in the bottom wall 7a, the aforementioned system of valves connects the conduit 32 with the atmosphere and admits compressed gas by way of the conduit 33 so that the piston 34 moves to the left, as viewed in FIG. 4, and entrains the carriage and the belt l in the same direction by way of the piston rod 9. In order to return the gate to the illustrated closed position, the operator connects the conduit 33 with the atmosphere and admits compressed gas into the conduit 32.

The upper stretch of the belt 1 is propped from below, i.e., opposite the outlet 11, by longitudinally extending supports 36 which extend between the transverse frame members 19, 21.

When the piston rod 9 moves the carriage to or from the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the wheels 24, 26 roll along the rails 27, 28. in order to reduce the overall length of the assembly which includes the gate and its drive, the cylinder 8 is preferably mounted at a level below the belt 1 so that the latter can move into the space between the cylinder and the bottom wall 7a when the gate is moved toward open position. The outlet 11 is then exposed and the flowable material (not shown) is free to descend into a magazine which is not illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6. The belt 1 is coupled to the bottom wall 7a, as at B, so that it can roll itself against or away from the outlet 11. During movement toward closed position, successive portions of the upper stretch of the belt 1 travel around the front roller 3 and move into registry with successive portions of the outlet 11 whereby such upward movement of successive portions of the belt 1 takes place at a speed which exceeds the speed of the tobacco stream in the path defined by the chute 7. Consequently, and as explained in connection iliary drive which derives'rnotion from one or more wheels of the carriage. This auxiliary drive comprises a crossed belt 141 which is trained over a pulley on the front shaft 106 and over a pulley on the shaft 142 of the front wheels 126. The belt 141 causes the roller 103 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction when the carriage with the belt 101 and wheels 126 is caused to move in a direction to the right, as viewed in FIG. 7, in order to move the gate toward closed position. The auxiliary drive may comprise a separate prime mover; however, the arrangement shown in FIG. 7 is preferred because the roller 103 is rotated automatically in response to movement of the gate to closed position. In this embodiment of my invention, the front roller 103 forms part of the auxiliary drive. The speed at which the upper stretch of the belt 101 is driven during movement of the gate toward closed position at least equals but preferably exceeds the speed of the tobacco stream in the path defined by the chute 107.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of my contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

Iclaim: g

1. In an apparatus for transporting flowable materials, particularly for transporting streams of tobacco or like fibrous substances, a combination comprising conveyor means defining an elongated path in which the material is conveyed in a predetermined direction at a first speed, said conveyor means having outlet means through which the material can be evacuated from said path; a gate movable between open and closed positions in which it respectively exposes and closes said out let means, said gate including deformable closing means hav-' ing a succession of portions which travel in said predetermined direction into registry with portions of said outlet means during movement of the gate toward closed position to thereby reduce the effective area of said outlet means; and drive means for moving said portions of said closing means into registry with said outlet means at a second speed which at least equals said first speed and for terminating the movement of said portions in said predetermined direction not later than when such portions register with said outlet means.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveyor means comprises a vibrating chute having a bottom wall and said outlet means is an opening in said bottom wall.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said closing means comprises a flexible member having an elongated stretch and said succession of portions form part of said stretch.

4. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said flexible member is a belt.

5. A combination as defined in claim 3,.wherein said flexible member is an endless flexible member and said gate further comprises rollers and a reciprocable carriage for said rollers, said flexible member being trained over said rollers.

6. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said stretch of said flexible member is fixed to said conveyor means at a point located upstream of said outlet means as considered in said predetermined direction and wherein said gate further comprises deforming means for shortening said stretch upstream of said point and for simultaneously lengthening said stretch downstream of said point and along said outlet means in response to movement of said gate toward closed position,

said succession of portions of said stretch moving into registry with successive portions of said outlet means during movement of said gate toward closed position.

7. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said deforming means comprises roller means.

8. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said drive means is arranged to reciprocatesaid gate along said outlet means.

9. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said g te further comprises a carriage which is reciprocable along said outlet means and a pair of rollers mounted in said carriage at a distance from each other which at least equals the length of said outlet means as considered in said direction, said closing means comprising a flexible member which is trained over said rollers and said drive means being connected with said carriage.

A combination as defined in claim 1', wherein said gate is located between said drive means and said conveyor means in the open position thereof.

11. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises a fluid-operated cylinder and piston assembly.

12. In an apparatus for transporting flowable materials, particularly for transporting streams of tobacco or like fibrous substances, a combination comprising conveyor means defining an elongated path in which the material is conveyed in a predetermined direction at a first speed, said conveyor means having outlet means through which the material can be evacuated from said path; a gate movable between open and closed positions in which it respectively exposes and closes said outlet means, said gate including closing means having a succession of portions which travel in said predetermined direction into registry with portions of said outlet means during movement of the gate toward closed position to thereby reduce the effective area of said outlet means, a carriage reciprocable along said outlet means, a pair of rollers mounted in said carriage at a distance from each other which at least equals the length of said outlet means asconsidered in said direction, said closing means comprising a flexible member which is trained over said rollers, and means for supporting said flexi ble member opposite said outlet means; and drive means connected with said carriage for moving said portions of said closing means into registry with portions of said outlet means at a second speed which at least equals said first speed.

13. in an apparatus for transporting flowable material, particularly for transporting streams of tobacco or like fibrous substances, a combination comprising conveyor means defin-' ing an'elongated path in which the material is conveyed in a predetermined-direction at a first speed, said conveyor means including a bottom wall provided with outlet means through which the material can be evacuated from said path; a gate movable between open and closed positions in which it respectively exposes and closes said outlet means, said gate including an endless flexible member comprising an elongated stretch having a succession of portions which travel in said predetermined direction into registry with portions of said outlet means during movement of the gate toward closed position to thereby reduce the effective area of said outlet means, said gate further comprising rollers and a reciprocable carriage for said rollers, said flexible member being trained over said rollers and having an upper stretch which is adjacent to the underside of said bottom wall and forms part of said conveyor means on movement of said gate from open position; and drive means for moving said portions of said first-mentioned stretch into registry with portions of said outlet means at a second speed which at least equals said first speed.

14. In an apparatus for transporting flowable materials, particularly for transporting streams of tobacco or like fibrous substances, a combination comprising conveyor means defining an elongated path in which the material is conveyed in a predetermined direction at a first speed, said conveyor means having outlet means through which the material can be evacuated from said path; a gate movable between open and closed positions in which it respectively exposes and closes said outlet means, said gate including a flexible member comprising an elongated stretch having a succession of portions which travel in said predetermined direction into registry with portions of said outlet means during movement of the gate toward closed position to thereby reduce the effective area of said outlet means; drive means for moving said portions of said stretch into registry with portions of said outlet means at a second speed which at least equals said first speed; and auxiliary drive means for transporting said portions of said stretch in a second direction counter to said predetermined direction during movement of said gate from open'toward closed position.

15. A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said auxiliary drive means is arranged to transport said portions of said flexible member at a speed which exceeds said first speed.

16. A combination as defined in claim 15, wherein said flexible member is an endless flexible member and said gate further comprises rollers at least one of which forms part of said auxiliary drive means, said flexible member being trained over said rollers. 

